'Peter Pan the Musical' set for next weekend

Peter Pan takes the stage Friday, and Saturday June 21 and 22, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, June 23 at 2:30 p.m. in the Wellington High School Auditorium.

Nate Jones@TheJonesTracker

Anyone that's ever wanted to visit Never, Never Land will soon have their chance. Peter Pan the Musical is coming to the Wellington High School auditorium.

Presented by the Wellington Community Theater, and the Children's Theater of Wellington, the show takes flight this weekend, Friday, June 21 through Sunday, June 23.

The local theater groups have been working with ZFX Flying Effects to get the cast of Peter Pan off the ground.

"We had to install the rigging [last weekend], then we have two, four-hour rehearsals a day," said Executive Director, Bob Brown. Between the adults and kids, there are over 50 cast members in all.

"They've been kind of running on adrenaline, it's been very exciting," Brown said. "It's a very small amount of cast members that get to fly." Preparation for the production began over a year ago.

"I went to the Board of Education meeting, talked to the high school and to the company that's done this production before just to get a little ground work, as far as what to expect," Brown said. There was a discussion at the BOE level about insurance, since there will be people elevated nearly 10 feet above the high school stage. Eventually, a conclusion was reached.

"We are on their insurance," Brown explained. "So anything that might happen, they have a $5 million liability insurance policy." Past productions for the local theater group have taken place at the old Junior High on N. A Street. The group is amped up for this show at the high school.

"We have a lot of talent, the kids are all really into it," Brown said. "Of course, moving to the high school has brought it to another level." The show stars Hannah Shelley as Peter Pan, Brenna Brown as Wendy Darling and Robert Hobbs as Captain James Hook, with direction by Bob and Michelle Brown and special choreography by Michelle Crittenden of Michelle's Encore Dance Studio.

Brown added that without the help of the community, the Peter Pan show would be a no-go. Cost for the flying rigs alone was $5,000.

"We've had a great out pouring from different businesses and individuals, so that's been fantastic," he said. While these theater groups are no strangers to local stages, when the curtain goes up on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, they are attempting feats they've never done before.

"We've done some smaller scale things, and we know this is a marquee, huge project," Brown said.